Diaphragmeter



PatenteclMar.26,1 40 p 2,l94,80 9

UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE DIAPHRAGMETER Daniel William Powell, .l'r., Baltimore, Md.

Application May 20, 1939, Serial No. 274,824

1 Claim. (01. libs-2.08)

The diaphragmeter is an apparatus consisting tial pressures in the bag which being transmitted of a rubber bag having an intake rubber tube to thepressure gauge marked inascale or degrees attached and an outlet pressure tube attached will be indicated on the gauge in accordance as one unit. The intake tube has a rubber bulb with each action the muscle makes in the various 5 or pump attached having a check valve on it acts of singing or speaking with the correct use 5 i for the purpose of inflating said bag or sack of the diaphragm muscle. This diaphragmeter and retaining the inflation of same to any given affords to my knowledge the first means of regisnumber of degrees of pressure to be indicated tering the all important actions of the diaphragm on a pressure gauge. The outlet pressure tube muscle, giving the pupil and instructor the means is operatively connected to said gauge, preferably of keeping a chart for reference purposes by 1 a mercury gauge marked in a scale of degrees noting the different actions of the muscle, to for the purpose of indicating the differential which it is put to use for the right technic of pressures transmitted from the bag or sack. The singing beautiful resonanttones. Through many gauge is constructed with a rubber base which years of study and vocal training I have learned when placed on a flat surface such as a piano th p 'Oper use of the diaphragm muscle is the top creates a partial vacuum thus causing a only means'by which an individual can'sing or i suction which will hold the gauge securely in speak in a beautiful tone so I am sure this an upright position and will not mar or scratch diaphragmeter will prove invaluable to the insaid surface. 1 The rubber bag is of a shape and structor and individual interested in this art.

size that will readily conform to the individual e acco pa y g drawing shows diagram- 26 shapes of human bodies in the region adjacent ea y he d ph e e in its entirety in to the diaphragm muscle. The rubber bag or' the pr per place on the human torso with nusack is covered with leather or a suitable material etals indicating its various parts! which will have a, face such as the one herein 5 is the face 01 outside Of the cover made of described made from treated oak leather with treated oak leather or such material as will be 25 straps sewed or secured to the tips, the shape of b e d Y be heavy enOllgh $0 he rubbe which conforms to the shape of the rubber bag bag or sack it faces will resist any outside physical or sack, the back of the cover is made from a action brought to bear on the inflated rubber softer leather or suitable material, and in this bag sack- The s p s ch t at it is the 30 one calf-skin is used. This back is also cut am as th bag r sa ut t t y la 30 the same shape as the heavier face but somewhat I has strap 5 With a buckle a ta sewed, larger in dimensions so that when it is sewed or ur d to ne p and strap 4 w y s c0nsecured to the face with the bag or sack inside m' nt y pa d, s d. 0r secured to the pp t the cover thus formed, is somewhat larger than p- These p 4 d 5 are 01' a Convenient the bag or sack and allows same room to expand length and strength S0I as to meet With the Various 35 when the bag or sack is inflated but retains the t s 0f t e ind vidual bodies to which the bag or sack to its shape and keeps it from bulging Covered bag stick is Strapped. 2 s e rubber or expanding further when any physical force bag Sack made of an inflatable at in is brought to bear on the cover, thus creating a this instance rubber of a gau e t at Wi l lend 40 difierential of degrees to be transmitted to the ts t asy nflat and p d s t at wh n 40 pressure gauge when a physical action such as in the like Shaped cover Will Conform o the the diaphragm muscle makes in the act of singing shape of the region of the human body adjacent and speaking correctly is brought to bear on to the diaphragm muscle. 2 has the intake rubthe back of the cover strapped on an individuals ber tube 6 attached, having the rubber bulb or body so that the back of the cover is in contact pump 8 with the check valve 1 attached for the 45 with the region of the body adjacent to the purpose of inflating the bag 2 and retaining the diaphragm muscle. The various actions of the inflation to a given number of degrees to be persons diaphragm muscle from the instant of indicated on the gauge. The rubber bag 2 also inhalation, the action made by it in the attack has the outlet pressure tube 9 attached and of a tone, and the subsequent further actions the connection I 0 which fits into connection ll 50 made in singing a sustained tone or a succession thus completing the outlet pressure tube which of tones such as a scale or a musical phrase in transmits pressure in the bag 2 to the pressure a song or aria will all take place against the gauge attached to same at connection [3. The back of the covered bag when strapped in place dotted lines in the drawing show the straps on the body stated above thus creating difierengoing around the body and buckled at the back.

H is the diaphragm in the mercury reservoir l which prevents the mercury from backing up into the outlet pressure tube 9 but when any pressure is transmitted to M it responds and forces the mercury to rise in the glass tube 20 marked in a scale of degrees, thus indicating the amount of pressure. 18 and 22 are the appliances which hold the glass tube 20 to its support i9. 2! is the mercury shown in the base of the glass tube 23. it shows the metal base to which the rubber suction cup l! is attached which suction cup forms a partial vacuum when in contact with a flat surface, thus creating a suction which holds the gauge in an upright position but does not mar or scratch the surface to which it is attached.

When the covered rubber bag or sack is strapped around the region of the body adjacent to the diaphragm muscle shown by numeral I? the bag or sack 2 is inflated in its cover, the back of which contacts the region of the body adjacent to the diaphragm muscle. Now for example, if the rubber bag or sack 2 is inflated so that 10 degrees is indicated on the pressure gauge this pressure is maintained throughout the lesson or singing period by closing the check valve 7, thus enabling the instructor and pupil to make all calculations from 10 degrees or if a higher degree to start with is preferable, that can be done in the same way as shown above. The individual on whom the diaphragmeter is strapped is then told to inhale which when done correctly for the purpose of singing or speaking correctly the physical action of the diaphragm muscle thus resulting takes place against the back of the cover 3. This resulting physical action causes the mercury in the gauge to rise from the given number of degrees started with to a greater number of degrees in accordance with the amount of physical action the individuals diaphragm is capable of making. The difierential pressure brought about by the physical action of the diaphragm muscle on the inflated bag will be indicated in degrees on the gauge accordingly. The further action of this muscle in the attack of the tone and the manner in which it is used to sustain tones or sing a succession of tones in a scale or musical phrase also taking place against the back of the cover will relatively be indicated in degrees on the gauge. While an individual is singing or speaking correctly the diaphragm muscle is constantly in action and since it is very important that this muscle be used correctly to attain the best tones possible, the person and instructor can keep a chart from day to day of its action on individuals which will be an invaluable source of permanent reference and show just what, if any, progress is being made in the perfection of the use of this all important muscle.

I claim:

In a diaphragmeter, an elongated inflatable bag adapted to contact the human body over the diaphragm muscle, an enclosing cover or relatively stiii leather for retaining said bag in a desired shape and size after inflation of said bag, said bag and cover each being of a shape and size to overlie substantially the entire diaphragm muscle, adjustable straps secured to the respective ends of said cover, and extending around the human body for securing said bag and cover over the diaphragm muscle, means for inflating said bag, a check valve associated with said inflating means to maintain said bag inflated to a desired degree of inflationv an outlet conduit leading from said bag to a pressure indicating means, and a detachable connection in said conduit, said pressure indicating means including a cylinder, a movable means operative in said cylinder to transmit pressure indications from said conduit, said movable means transmitting said indications to a pressure gauge, whereby the variations in pressure in said conduit resulting from the expansion and contraction of the diaphragm may be transmitted to and indicated upon said gauge.

DANIEL WILLIAM- POWELL, JR. 

